Family pet fights for life after vicious dog attack

PAT NOLAN14 Jan 2014, 11:04 p.m.

A BALLARAT vet has urged pet owners to ensure their gates are child-proof after a three-year-old girl allowed two dangerous dogs to escape and attack a whippet yesterday, leaving it fighting for its life.

Family pet fights for life after vicious dog attack

Tilly the whippet recovers from surgery at the Wendouree Veterinary Practice after being savaged by two staffordshire terriers.

A BALLARAT vet has urged pet owners to ensure their gates are child-proof after a three-year-old girl allowed two dangerous dogs to escape and attack a whippet yesterday, leaving it fighting for its life.

“The amount of skin that got torn off was disturbing, but you can see that quite often with whippets. The teeth have gone through the muscle under the ribs, but they are very resilient dogs and she is doing quite well.”

Speaking to The Courier last night, Dr Lawrence said Tilly was in a critical but stable condition.

Dr Lawrence said the incident served as a warning for people to “child-proof” their fences.

“People should really treat animals in the same way they would in protecting kids from a pool,” he said.

“You don’t let small children near a pool, so you shouldn’t let them near a gate where animals can escape.”

Dr Lawrence said it was likely Tilly would have to undergo further operations, but remained hopeful she would make a full recovery, despite some significant scarring.

City of Ballarat general manager city infrastructure Eric Braslis said the dogs had been seized and were being held in the pound while an investigation was conducted.

“Given the matter remains subject to ongoing investigation it is not appropriate to make any further comment at this stage,” Mr Braslis said.

One witness to the incident said it was “horrific” to watch.

“First of all I just heard people screaming and the first thing I saw was the two big dogs with the whippet in their mouths,” said Gregory Street resident Glenis Morey.